Emily Espinosa — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:25:13 +0000

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Key Takeaways

From the Seattle Seawall project to mentoring the next generation, Haritha Venna’s career includes big-picture thinking, decisive action, and building infrastructure and people that last.
She demonstrated leadership during the Seattle Seawall project, taking on project management responsibilities early on.
Haritha emphasizes mentoring, empowering her team to take ownership and grow in their roles.
She believes leadership requires accountability and supporting the team through challenges while maintaining project quality.
Haritha is excited about the evolving nature of engineering projects and aims to make a lasting positive impact on communities.

From the Seattle Seawall project to mentoring the next generation, Haritha Venna’s career includes big-picture thinking, decisive action, and building infrastructure and people that last.

Early tests of leadership: looking at projects from the bigger picture

When you’ve always been good at math and science, engineering can come naturally. That’s how Haritha Venna found her way into civil engineering and began her career at Parsons, starting out in their Atlanta, GA office. Just eight months into her start, Haritha’s husband got a job in Seattle, and she relocated to Parsons’ Seattle office. “Because Parsons has offices all over the country, I knew I’d have opportunities no matter where I went,” said Haritha, being excited and ready for a new opportunity.

While in Seattle, Haritha’s potential as a project manager began to show itself. She had the ability to zoom out her view of a project and look at it from a big picture perspective. Doing so allowed her to see how all tasks interacted and what was needed to keep the project moving forward.

Her first real test at project leadership came during the Seattle Seawall project. She began the project as an engineer and engineer-of-record, and when a project amendment was added, she became the project manager after the previous project manager had to step down for another opportunity. “You’re never really prepared to step into leadership. You just have to take the step and find out,” says Haritha of her first foray into leadership.

From mentee to mentor: uplifting the next generation of engineers

Haritha was fortunate to have a great mentor in Jim Eshbaugh, who always made her feel supported and showed up for her in whatever way she needed. When asked what he taught her that stands out the most, she said, “He told me the worst thing you can do is not make a decision at all. Don’t waffle. Even if the decision isn’t quite right, you have to move forward because waiting costs time.”

This has resonated in her ability to move projects forward, consistently managing schedules successfully by making clear decisions on complex project challenges. She’s also taken that advice, and much more, from Jim Eshbaugh and applied it to how she manages her own team.

For Haritha, it means giving her team opportunities to take ownership of their work and the freedom to make those decisions. Having been provided the same opportunities in her

career, she knows those moments are critical to their growth. As she says, “I want them to flourish and grow, even if that means rising above where I am. How far you can go at Parsons is only constrained by you. So, if they put in the time and effort to grow, then I want to do whatever I can to support that.”

Decisive leadership: embracing accountability and encouraging autonomy

On projects like the Seattle Seawall or Georgia 400, the stakes were high for Haritha, if something fails then entire communities were affected. “That’s the real pressure. Consistently delivering successful solutions under tight timelines, while making sure they’re designed to last,” said Haritha. There are reviews and safeguards built in, yet the stress often comes from unrealistic schedules and never quite having enough time to make everything perfect.

One moment that truly tested Haritha was early in the Seattle Seawall project. A subconsultant was leading a task with significant autonomy, and then Haritha’s team realized segments weren’t aligning as they should. It forced her to step into leadership more decisively.

“If you don’t want to work for a bad leader, you have to be willing to lead even when it’s uncomfortable. Resetting expectations, improving coordination, and embracing the autonomy I was given helped me grow, reinforcing that leadership is about accountability and guiding the team forward when the responsibility feels real,” said Haritha of addressing this critical project challenge.

What’s next: the future of Haritha’s career and the industry

At this stage in Haritha’s career, she’s most excited by the variety and the challenge that each project presents. She’s worked on everything from light rail and highways to fish passages and interstate projects across the West Coast, East Coast, Texas, and Canada with no two projects ever being the same. For her, new projects mean new problems to solve and new people to collaborate with, which is what keeps the work fresh. She’s also energized by how emerging technologies are transforming civil infrastructure, helping to design and deliver projects that are better, faster, and safer.

When it comes to the impact she’s left in her career, Haritha said this, “Ultimately, I hope the roads, bridges, and rail systems I’ve worked on help people get where they need to go safely and efficiently, while also meeting broader goals like improving salmon habitats through fish passage projects or supporting economic growth in a community. Success isn’t just about building something; it’s about delivering on the client’s vision and creating work we can be proud of.”

About The Author

Haritha Venna is a professional engineer and design manager with experience leading, managing, and designing highway, waterfront, urban rail, high-speed rail, light rail, streetcar, complete street, and municipal projects. Her experience also includes developing plans, specifications, and estimates. She has worked on several design-build and design-bid-build projects for local clients such as the Washington State Department of Transportation, Sound Transit, and the Seattle Department of Transportation and for several national and international clients, providing design services; plans, specifications, and estimates oversight; general contractor/construction manager services; design-build management; and subconsultant management.

The post Leadership Doesn’t Wait Until You’re Ready appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

Debra Frey — Tue, 26 May 2026 12:05:00 +0000

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Embracing Changes In Defense Acquisition

Recent updates in defense acquisition are driving procurement toward faster, more flexible approaches for software, digital systems, and emerging technologies. The emphasis is on rapid prototyping, continuous delivery, and modular, interoperable solutions. In addition, there is a broader use of commercial and nontraditional vendors. This avoids closed approaches that limit integration and competition.

For AI, policy trends call for stronger data governance, rigorous testing, transparency, reliability, bias mitigation, and human oversight. The Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, created in 2022, states that its mission is “advancing deterrence” and “beating bureaucracy.” It also aims to rapidly harness advanced private-sector AI and adapt these tools for the defense environment.¹

In practice, AI procurement is increasingly treated as a full-lifecycle effort. It spans acquisition, validation, risk management, long-term sustainment, and the agility to insert new capabilities as they mature.

PALADIN Lab AI Summit

We are aligned with this evolution through adaptive integration methods. Additionally, we offer deep RDT&E experience and strong ties across the commercial technology ecosystem.

Through the PALADIN Lab, we give teams a practical venue to evaluate, experiment with, and integrate emerging AI in a mission-focused setting. At the same time, we broaden access to nontraditional commercial partners.

Our recent AI Summit brought together stakeholders, innovators, and integrators. The event accelerated understanding of available technologies, informed requirements, and enabled flexible adoption pathways for AI-enabled capabilities.

By partnering with commercial providers, we demonstrated how commercial tech can be adapted for mission-relevant defense use cases when paired with an experienced systems integrator. Rather than showing tools in isolation, vendors aligned demonstrations to operational needs and problem sets. As a result, capabilities became directly applicable to government requirements. In several cases, commercial demos were coordinated with our demonstrations.

This showed how emerging technologies integrate into broader workflows and technical environments. The outcome underscored the value of collaboration: commercial partners delivered innovative solutions. We provided mission context, integration expertise, and operational framing to make those solutions meaningful.

Our recently hosted summit showcased emerging technologies in a technical exchange open house at our Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Maryland-based PALADIN Lab on May 5, 2026. Our teams and seven industry partners demonstrated emerging capabilities, including advanced ISR, Edge AI, Spectrum Dominance, and Space Situational Awareness applications. These capabilities were shown to leaders and engineers from the APG C5ISR community.

The open-house format enabled extensive technical conversations that participants identified as highly relevant and valuable to their mission. This event was the latest in our Tech Demo Series. It accelerates development and delivery of emerging technologies in support of the Army’s C5ISR mission.

What Is the PALADIN Lab?

Designed to foster new technologies and capabilities for the warfighter, the PALADIN Lab is owned and operated by us. It is located on Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. From here, this innovation incubator connects industry, academia, and the Department of War. Therefore, it enables our customers and us to leverage imaginative people and open, available technology to address the DoW’s toughest challenges.

The PALADIN Lab Approach

The PALADIN Lab provides a low-risk venue for government and industry to collaborate on prototypes, emerging hardware, algorithms, and software within existing government architectures. This approach helps decision-makers quickly determine which commercial capabilities to pursue. It also clarifies which technologies do not translate well to mission requirements.

Featured Parsons Demos

SPIKE-AI – Neuromorphic Accelerators enable rapid AI expansion of existing platforms and capabilities on the edge
Operator-X – AI assistant using LLM technologies within DCO tools
AVAA – Advanced Video Activity Analytics at scale
SignalKingdom – Signal Processing AI/ML, linking RF activity to context
DigitalSentry – A passive, distributed sensing and correlation capability for sensitive facilities
CAPE – Collaborative AI for Predicting ECOA
AI DMM – AI for Dynamic Mission Management
SAINT – Satellite Anomaly AI Predictor Utilizing Telemetry
ASCO – Interactive AI Agent-based tool for satellite collection orchestration

Featured Partners

AWS: Secure, reliable, and compliant cloud services to bring mission capabilities to bear
Scale: Agentic Planning & Analysis
C3 AI: C3 AI Intel Fusion
VectorForge: Real-Time Behavioral Analytics for Complex Environments
Jaxon: Neurosymbolic AI for Verified Intelligence
SwRI: Advanced RF Sensing for Low Latency Characterization
IBM Consulting: CXEdge – AI enabled sensor integration and data management at the tactical edge
IBM Technology: IBM watsonx solutions designed to create end-to-end secure, and domain specific AI environments for the DoW

What’s Next?

Looking ahead, we will continue expanding our Tech Demo Series and collaboration opportunities at the PALADIN Lab to shorten the path from concept to capability. If you are a program office, mission owner, or technology provider interested in co-developing, evaluating, or integrating AI-enabled solutions, contact our team to schedule a visit to APG or propose a joint demonstration. Together, we can accelerate the development of trustworthy, interoperable capabilities. These capabilities deliver a decisive advantage to the warfighter.

Together, we can accelerate the development of trustworthy, interoperable capabilities that deliver a decisive advantage to the warfighter.

About The Author

Dr. Richard “Rich” Hull is Vice President of AI and Software Solutions within Parsons’ Defense and Intelligence business unit, where he serves as the AI Lead on the SPARC team, driving the identification and application of cutting-edge AI/ML solutions to complex defense challenges. His career began as a software developer during his studies at the University of Central Florida, where he earned his PhD in Computer Science with a specialization in Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing.

In his current role, Dr. Hull leads a team of AI/ML Solution Architects applying advanced technologies across diverse mission areas, including space operations, weapon reliability, command and control, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). Previously, he directed an applied research team that developed scalable AI/ML solutions for government and commercial applications, including an enterprise search and discovery tool certified for military networks serving over 2,000 users. As Principal Investigator on more than 35 federally-sponsored R&D projects for organizations including DARPA, AFRL, Office of Naval Research, USSOCOM, and MDA, Dr. Hull has established himself as a leading innovator in the defense technology sector.

His expertise is further evidenced by his service on the technical program committee of the IEEE International Conference on Tools with AI, numerous publications in technical journals and conference proceedings spanning artificial intelligence, knowledge management, and cheminformatics, and invited speaking engagements at research meetings across North America and Europe.

https://www.ai.mil/About/Organization/ ︎

The post Supporting The Department of War’s (DoW) Defense Acquisition Strategy By Advancing AI appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

Emily Espinosa — Fri, 22 May 2026 15:02:30 +0000

AI Summary

This article highlights how infrastructure modernization is being driven by aging systems, population growth, and evolving security threats, pushing organizations toward integrated, system-wide solutions rather than isolated upgrades.

We emphasize an end-to-end delivery model that combines design, engineering, construction, security, and sustainment to improve reliability, reduce risk, and support continuous operations. Strong program management is central to this approach, enabling complex projects to stay aligned, resilient, and operational, especially in high-stakes federal environments.

A key differentiator is the “One Parsons” model, which integrates physical infrastructure with advanced systems and security to create cohesive, adaptable environments. This approach is critical for modernizing infrastructure without disrupting ongoing operations through phased implementation and close coordination. Bottom line: Modern infrastructure success depends on integration, resilience, and continuous operation, transforming infrastructure into a connected system that can adapt to future demands.

We turned to our leading experts to ask the big questions about the future of infrastructure, offering an inside look at how industry leaders are tackling modernization, resilience, and protection. Discover how their strategies are supporting today’s critical missions and preparing for the challenges ahead.

INTERVIEWEES:
Mark Fialkowski, President, Infrastructure North America
Martin Boson, President, Engineered Systems

1. What’s driving the urgency around modernizing critical infrastructure right now?

Fialkowski: There’s increasing pressure to modernize infrastructure that wasn’t built for today’s risks or demands. Aging systems and growing populations are challenging reliability and public safety with infrastructure systems for transportation, aviation, and water. Because of this, the focus has shifted from individual projects for routine improvements to a holistic view that modernizes and engages all infrastructure systems.

We do this by engaging early with customers to assess risk and resilience needs, then carry solutions through design, construction, integration, and sustainment. By aligning infrastructure modernization with security and operational requirements from the outset, we help customers reduce risk, improve reliability, and avoid costly rework later.

Boson: From a federal perspective, the urgency is being driven by how quickly the threats are evolving compared to the pace of traditional infrastructure modernization. For our federal clients, end‑to‑end protection means integrating the technologies that keep personnel, assets, and missions secure. That includes electronic security systems, access control, identity and biometrics solutions, and counter‑UAS (CUAS) capabilities that protect airspace and facilities, all integrated with the digital and physical infrastructure that supports them.

We bring assessment, engineering, systems integration, installation, operations, and sustainment together under one team. Rather than delivering standalone technologies, we design interoperable solutions that function as a cohesive system and can evolve as threats, technologies, and mission needs change.

2. How does strong program and project management influence outcomes for complex infrastructure and federal missions?

Fialkowski: Strong program and project management turns complex infrastructure investment into reliable, long‑term outcomes. Today’s programs involve multiple stakeholders, regulatory requirements, and active operations that cannot pause while work is delivered. Disciplined program management creates the structure needed to manage risk, maintain alignment, and deliver consistency across portfolios, not just individual projects.

We’re ranked as ENR’s #1 Program Management firm, and this reflects our ability to manage complexity at scale and deliver certainty in environments where failure is not an option. It reinforces the role program management plays as a foundational capability of One Parsons, enabling integrated delivery across infrastructure, security, and operations.

Boson: For federal missions, strong program and project management is inseparable from mission success. Federal infrastructure, aviation, and secure environments operate continuously and often under heightened risk. Program management provides the governance and integration framework needed to modernize, protect, and sustain these environments without disrupting active operations.

Our customers trust our ability to manage complexity at scale, reduce risk, preserve continuity, and deliver programs that perform reliably in real‑world federal operating environments.

3. How do the Infrastructure and the Engineered Systems teams come together to deliver a differentiated “One Parsons” approach to infrastructure?

Fialkowski: We have a long history of developing infrastructure solutions for bridges, roadways/highways, rail/transit, and water systems, then grew globally through acquisitions that strengthened our transportation and large-scale civil engineering capabilities. Today, we’re a major international provider of infrastructure solutions, integrating engineering with advanced technology to deliver complex projects in transportation, water, aviation, and urban development.

As such, we understand our customers don’t experience infrastructure challenges in silos, so our approach can’t be siloed either. “One Parsons” means designing and delivering infrastructure with protection, resilience, and operational continuity built in from the beginning.

Boson: Engineered Systems brings the federal mission and systems integration perspective that turns strong infrastructure into a fully operational, protected environment. For federal customers, infrastructure upgrades, aviation systems, and security capabilities must be delivered together and sustained without disrupting active missions. That requires close coordination between physical infrastructure, systems engineering, and operations.

Our team works alongside Infrastructure North America to integrate critical infrastructure protection, including CUAS and identity management, and sustainment and resilience capabilities directly into infrastructure programs. By providing these capabilities end-to-end, rather than treating these elements as separate efforts, we deliver them as part of a single, accountable program.

4. How do you help customers balance modernization with continuity and reliability when upgrading critical infrastructure?

Fialkowski: Balancing modernization with mission continuity starts with recognizing that most critical infrastructure cannot simply be taken offline and rebuilt. Upgrades must be phased, adaptable, and designed to perform under real‑world operating conditions.

Projects like the LAX Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP) demonstrate what this looks like in practice. At one of the world’s busiest airports, we are delivering large‑scale transportation and infrastructure upgrades while airport operations, airline activity, and passenger movement continue uninterrupted. Achieving that balance required close coordination between infrastructure delivery and systems integration, allowing new capabilities to be introduced incrementally without disrupting daily operations or the broader aviation mission.

Boson: For federal missions, continuity is not a constraint; it is the operating condition. Modernization must be integrated into ongoing operations, with new capabilities supporting real-world mission needs, not treated as separate technical upgrades. New capabilities must align with how people operate, respond, and make decisions every day.

You can see that approach clearly at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. Following the 2019 earthquakes, the priority wasn’t just rebuilding damaged facilities but restoring and modernizing a mission‑critical installation while weapons testing, training, and operational activities continued.

Projects like China Lake show that it requires close coordination with operators, disciplined integration of infrastructure and systems, rigorous testing, and a long‑term sustainment mindset. When modernization is treated as part of the mission, not separate from it, infrastructure becomes more resilient, more secure, and better positioned to support operations well into the future.

5. How is aviation infrastructure evolving beyond traditional airport design?

Fialkowski: Airports are evolving into highly connected platforms rather than standalone facilities. Traditional designs, once focused on aircraft movement and passenger flow, are giving way to environments that integrate transportation, energy, technology, and resilience planning.

That shift is evident in projects like the Newark Liberty International Airport Terminal Redevelopment. The program goes beyond building a new terminal to rethinking how passengers move through the airport, how landside infrastructure connects to regional transportation networks, and how the facility supports long‑term operational flexibility. Modernization efforts are focused on improving the passenger experience while also strengthening reliability, security, and adaptability in a complex operating environment.

Modern aviation infrastructure must also respond to changing passenger expectations and operational demands. Terminals are designed for scalability, airside systems are increasingly automated, and landside infrastructure is more tightly integrated with regional transportation and utility networks. Ultimately, airports must function as part of a broader ecosystem, connecting physical assets, digital systems, and communities to support safe, efficient, and adaptable air travel over time.

Boson: Aviation infrastructure is no longer confined to terminals and runways. It is a fully integrated national system connecting physical facilities, digital platforms, and operational decision‑making across the entire airspace. Growth in air traffic, new airspace users, and aging systems are driving modernization well beyond the airport perimeter.

You can see this approach in action with our ongoing partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration through the Technical Support Services Contract (TSSC). With this program, we handle upgrades to infrastructure and systems all across the National Airspace System, including air traffic control facilities, critical communications, navigation, surveillance, and power systems. And we do all of this while airspace operations continue to run smoothly at hundreds of sites nationwide. It takes careful coordination with operators, rigorous integration and acceptance testing, and a focus on long-term sustainment planning to make sure modernization actually boosts performance without disrupting safety or continuity.

6. What are the best practices used to deliver infrastructure projects in challenging environments?

Fialkowski: Best practices in challenging environments focus on resilience, adaptability, and long-term operability. Our work in Puerto Rico has demonstrated that infrastructure must be designed to recover quickly from disruption as much as to endure it. Following repeated natural disasters, successful projects prioritize distributed systems, phased delivery, and designs that balance immediate needs with long-term performance. Another critical practice is aligning infrastructure delivery with local realities. In Puerto Rico, that means coordinating closely with utilities, regulators, and communities while designing systems that can be operated and maintained under constrained conditions. Infrastructure in these environments must be flexible, repairable, and sustainable, recognizing that climate stress and resource limitations are not temporary challenges but defining characteristics of the operating environment

Boson: In federal environments, best practice starts with treating location as a primary design and delivery condition, not a constraint to work around. In places like Guam, where our team provides construction management support for Missile Defense Agency facilities, successful delivery depends on early integration of mission requirements, logistics planning, and environmental compliance. Remote locations require designs that account for limited access, long supply chains, harsh environments, and the need to maintain operations throughout construction. Planning for constructability and material availability from the outset is critical.

Antarctica extends this discipline even further. Projects there require exhaustive upfront planning, modular and transportable designs, and infrastructure engineered for reliability. Short construction windows and zero tolerance for rework demand precise logistics coordination, extensive pre‑deployment testing, and digital planning tools that reduce uncertainty. These environments reinforce the value of integrated delivery, where infrastructure and systems are planned together from day one.

Mark Fialkowski

Mark is President of Infrastructure, North America, and leads our infrastructure programs, is responsible for the leadership, strategy, growth, business execution, and operations across the United States and Canada. Mark joined Parsons in 1989 as a Transportation Engineer, and, has held a series of progressively more responsible leadership roles within the critical infrastructure industry, including Executive Vice President of Parsons’ Mobility Solutions Business Unit responsible for profit & loss, strategy, growth, project delivery, talent management and operations for the North American and Middle East Bridge, Road & Highway, Tunnel, Water/Wastewater, and Industrial markets.

Martin Boson

Martin is President of Engineered Systems, a Parsons federal business unit that delivers, protects, and sustains critical assets across the Defense, Intelligence, and Critical Infrastructure markets. He is responsible for leading advanced engineering, planning, design, and delivery of complex infrastructure, environmental, energy, and life sciences products and services to U.S. government customers across five continents that include the U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, Program Executive Office Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Department of Labor, Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Prior to this role, Martin served as General Manager and Senior Vice President for Saudi Arabia Parsons Ltd. He joined the company in 2003, progressing through positions of increasing responsibility in the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The post An Inside Look: Expert Q&A On Infrastructure Modernization And What Comes Next appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

Securing Access, Protecting Infrastructure: Bringing Identity And Safety To The World’s Biggest Events

Emily Espinosa — Mon, 18 May 2026 15:13:00 +0000

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Key Takeaways

Global events like the FIFA World Cup or Olympic Games require careful management of identity and infrastructure protection.

Digital identity verification, including biometric authentication and mobile credentials, has become essential for security.

Proven expertise allows the team to secure venues and protect operations during high-profile events across five continents.

Tailored solutions scale up for peak demand and ensure compliance with local regulations and accessibility standards.

Post-event, systems can provide lasting benefits, enhancing security and management capabilities for cities.

When cities host events like the FIFA World Cup or the Olympic Games, the eyes of the world are watching. Behind the scenes, thousands of workers, athletes, dignitaries, and support teams need secure access to stadiums, transport hubs, and operational facilities. Managing identity, verifying credentials, and protecting critical infrastructure is essential to the safety and success of the event.

We help host cities design and deploy integrated security systems that control access, track credentials, and protect essential services. More than just installing technology, we create smart, scalable identity ecosystems that ensure only the right people are in the right places at the right times.

Identity Is The New Perimeter

Traditional security relied on physical checkpoints and visible badges. Today’s events require more. Identity must be verified digitally and seamlessly, often across dozens of locations and systems. Biometric authentication, mobile credentials, and integrated access platforms are transforming the way global events manage security.

Our designs identity management systems that balance security, speed, and user experience. We integrate facial recognition, fingerprint scanners, QR-code scanning, and mobile ID technologies into platforms that serve both temporary and long-term security needs.

Proven Expertise On A Global Scale

Our team has secured high-profile venues, defense facilities, borders, and transit systems across five continents. We have helped cities manage security for military summits, airport expansions, and international sporting events. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, we supported safe and secure operations across venues, mobility hubs, and temporary infrastructure.

We bring deep experience in both biometrics and critical infrastructure protection. That dual focus enables us to secure not only who enters a site, but also how core systems like power, water, and transport are monitored and controlled.

Three Ways We Protect Events And Infrastructure

Integrated Identity Management

We deliver systems that authenticate identity in real time. These platforms connect credential databases, physical access controls, and mobile verification tools into one secure ecosystem. Whether it is a worker entering a media center or a vehicle accessing a secure perimeter, identity checks happen fast and accurately.

Biometric Access Control

We design and deploy facial, iris, and fingerprint-based access systems that are fast, contactless, and secure. These systems reduce bottlenecks and improve compliance, even in high-traffic areas. Biometrics are especially effective in multi-venue environments with rotating shifts and complex access zones.

Infrastructure Protection and Monitoring

We secure the systems behind the scenes. Our cybersecurity and physical security teams work together to protect energy grids, water systems, and command centers. We monitor for physical breaches, digital threats, and operational anomalies using AI-assisted platforms that deliver real-time alerts.

Fast, Secure, and Scalable

Global events require systems that are temporary, yet fully operational. Our designs identity and infrastructure protection solutions that scale up for peak demand and scale down post-event. Every solution is tailored to the host city’s operational, cultural, and regulatory context.

Our systems support:

Multi-language and international credentialing
ADA and accessibility compliance
Integration with transportation and emergency services
Secure mobile and cloud-based administration

We also provide mobile enrollment kits that allow for on-site credential creation, ideal for remote venues or fast-changing staff rosters.

Beyond the Event: A Legacy Of Safety

What we build for an event can continue serving the city long after the final competition. Biometric access systems can become part of long-term airport or stadium security. Credential management platforms can evolve into permanent tools for city agencies and transportation departments. Infrastructure monitoring systems can continue protecting essential services year-round.

Cities gain:

Modernized access control and ID systems
Interoperable tools for emergency response and facility management
Upgraded security infrastructure for future events
Better visibility into who is where, and when

A Partner In Smart, Secure Operations

We are trusted by government agencies, defense organizations, and international event planners to protect the most sensitive environments in the world. We combine security engineering, identity science, and system integration to help cities deliver safe, efficient, and resilient operations.

We collaborate with:

Local and national law enforcement
Emergency management agencies
Venue operators and private security providers
Transportation and infrastructure teams

Our teams are on the ground before, during, and after the event, ensuring that systems work as designed and adapt as needed.

Ready To Secure The World’s Biggest Moments

Every major event is a high-stakes moment for host cities. We deliver the identity and infrastructure protection systems that help make those moments safe, seamless, and successful. From athletes to fans, from staff to leadership, we make sure the right people get where they need to go — and the systems behind the scenes stay protected.

We’re ready to help cities host the world with confidence.

The post Securing Access, Protecting Infrastructure: Bringing Identity And Safety To The World’s Biggest Events appeared first on Parsons Corporation.

Partnering With Sound Transit: Past, Present, And Future

Debra Frey — Fri, 01 May 2026 19:29:00 +0000

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Key Takeaways

Sound Transit has developed an extensive light rail system in the Puget Sound region, with major funding from local voters.
Recent projects include the Federal Way Link Extension, which expanded light rail service with three new elevated stations and a focus on sustainability.
Collaboration in construction and design has been crucial for the East Link Extension, which connects the east side of Puget Sound to Seattle.
We are involved in planning for the upcoming Everett Link Extension to improve access for Snohomish County residents.
Our partnership with Sound Transit continues as we support their $60 billion capital program through design and engineering services.

As the regional transit agency of the Puget Sound region in Washington state, Sound Transit has been building an expansive light rail system over the past three decades, supported by funding measures approved by local voters in 1996, 2008, and 2016. We have collaborated with Sound Transit on major projects that have shaped the system’s infrastructure, stations, and operational capabilities.

Our work with Sound Transit spans early-stage planning, infrastructure delivery, safety improvements, and system modernization for future rail facilities

We have collaborated on projects that extend service to new communities while strengthening the reliability and capacity of the broader Link light rail system.

Streamlining Delivering Of The Federal Way Link Extension

One of the newest additions to the regional light rail system is the Federal Way Link Extension, which opened for service on December 6, 2025. We served as the lead designer for this 7.8-mile expansion extending light rail service south from Angle Lake Station to the Federal Way Transit Center. The project features three elevated stations that connect directly with new park-and-ride garages, regional bus services, and pedestrian networks.

The Federal Way Link Extension is a 7.8-mile expansion that extends light rail service south from Angle Lake Station to the Federal Way Transit Center.

We managed overall design coordination and drew on our broad base of design expertise to deliver design plans for elevated guideway structures, stations and parking garages, tracks, power and train controls, communications systems, roadway improvements, drainage infrastructure, and utility relocations.

We also developed a sustainability plan that led to Envision Platinum recognition for Sound Transit and collaborated with artists selected by Sound Transit to integrate public artwork into the stations and station plazas.

Collaboration has been central to the success of the project. Operating within a design-build model, we worked closely with construction partners and Sound Transit staff to streamline project delivery and enable early construction activities to begin while design continued. Through a series of alternative technical concepts and design optimizations, our team reduced construction duration, improved safety, and simplified long-term maintenance needs for the agency.

Collaborating On Design And Construction Of The East Link Extension

The East Link Extension project included a multimodal hub at the South Bellevue Station.

On March 28, 2026, Sound Transit opened the Crosslake Connection, which is the final piece of the multiphase, 14-mile project connecting the east side of Puget Sound to Seattle. We provided preliminary engineering for track and systems for the Downtown Redmond Link phase at the east end of the project, and our construction group served as a joint venture partner on construction of the South Bellevue extension, including 2.2 miles of light rail guideway and the South Bellevue Station multimodal hub.

The project required complex construction next to major roadways, including a long-span aerial structure over Interstate 90, which was built using a balanced cantilever construction method to minimize disruption to traffic.

Planning, Coordination, And Design For The Everett Link Extension

We are also supporting planning and project development as a major subconsultant and engineering services lead for the Everett Link Extension and the Operations and Maintenance Facility North. This 16-mile extension north of Seattle will connect Snohomish County residents to the regional Link light rail network, including service to the Boeing Company’s Everett Production facility and the surrounding industrial center.

We have supported the development and evaluation of alignment alternatives, station concepts, and potential maintenance facility locations. The work includes coordination with regional agencies, feasibility studies, and conceptual designs that inform environmental review and stakeholder engagement.

Rail Systems Expertise To Support Modernization And Safety Enhancements

In addition to our history of collaboration with Sound Transit, we have supported critical infrastructure technology improvements, bringing global experience in rail systems technology to modernize transit operations for clients across our footprint. We have helped agencies around the world evaluate and implement advanced train control systems such as communications-based train control (CBTC), which uses continuous train-to-wayside communication and precise train location data to support safe, efficient operations.

We have conducted similar modernization efforts for transit agencies including Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), where we helped develop strategy, requirements, and procurement documentation for a systemwide CBTC program designed to increase capacity and improve reliability.

Similarly, we have been providing program and construction management services for the New Marseille Metro (NEOMMA) in Marseille, France, featuring new rolling stock, CBTC system, and communications upgrades for unmanned train operation.

As a design consultant to Sound Transit, we were recently selected for two task order contracts that will draw on this systems expertise, including the design of train control and signal upgrades associated with new pedestrian gates for a five-mile segment that operates at grade adjacent to mixed traffic, and support for enhanced collision avoidance detection systems planned for Sound Transit’s light rail vehicle fleet.

A Continuing Partnership With Sound Transit

Recently, we secured a prime contractor position on Sound Transit’s 2025 $1 billion ceiling multiple-award task order contract (MATOC) for design services. This five-year contract, with two potential one-year extensions, will support Sound Transit’s $60 billion capital program, one of the largest transportation infrastructure initiatives in North America.

Under this MATOC, we will provide architecture, engineering, and related services for a wide range of projects, including light rail extensions, system resiliency and sustainability improvements, and state-of-good-repair initiatives. We also hold subcontractor positions on Sound Transit’s MATOCs for environmental and program management/construction management services.

Our global perspective complements our long-standing support for Sound Transit’s infrastructure, expansion program, and operational needs. With our ongoing work on the Everett Link Extension and the broad range of services we can provide to Sound Transit through its multiple-award task order contracts for environmental, design, and program management services, we look forward to continuing this successful partnership.

About The Author

Ethan Melone is Vice President and Pacific Northwest Regional Manager at Parsons, where he oversees road, highway, bridge, and transit projects. Prior to joining Parsons, he managed the City of Seattle’s rail program for 10 years and was responsible for all aspects of two successfully completed modern streetcar lines, from design through construction and operational startup. Ethan was also the City of Seattle’s designated representative for Sound Transit and managed the interfaces with Sound Transit for the design, permitting, and construction of the regional light rail system within the city.

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Parsons Employees Making A World Of Difference

Emily Espinosa — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:30:00 +0000

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Recognizing Our Volunteer Of The Year Winners

Our commitment to the communities where we live and work is at the heart of who we are. It’s a reflection of our People First culture and of the passion our employees bring not only to their work, but to the world around them. In 2025, Parsons employees once again dedicated thousands of hours to volunteer service, supporting causes they care deeply about and making a meaningful impact in their communities.

As we celebrate the continued success of our Volunteer of the Year program, we are proud to recognize three exceptional individuals whose service truly stands out. Their efforts reflect the power of combining professional expertise, compassion, and commitment to create positive change. Please join us in congratulating our 2025 Volunteers of the Year and thanking them and all our global volunteers for the difference they make every day.

Read on to learn more about this year’s award winners.

Volunteer of the Year Recipients

Muhammad Shakeel Akhtar

STEM Award Winner Honored for advancing STEM education through mentorship, innovation, and hands-on learning. Muhammad’s volunteer service reflects a deep commitment to empowering the next generation through technology and education. As a judge for Technovation Girls, Muhammad played a pivotal role in helping participants build their understanding of technical concepts while encouraging creativity, innovation, and confidence. Through thoughtful feedback and mentorship, he supported young girls as they developed solutions to real-world problems directly advancing Technovation Girls’ mission to cultivate future leaders and technology innovators. Muhammad’s dedication to STEM outreach helps break down barriers, expand access, and inspire young minds to see what’s possible in engineering and technology careers.

Shannon Schoepflin

MILVET Award Winner Recognized for impactful service with Heroes Resource Center (HRC), supporting military members, veterans, and their families. Shannon exemplifies extraordinary dedication to service supporting veterans, military families, vulnerable populations, animals, and students throughout her community. Her volunteer efforts span a wide range of organizations, including Heroes Night Out, Hand to Hold, Honor Flight Austin, Operation Liberty Hill, local animal shelters, food programs, and disaster relief initiatives.
In addition to hands-on service, Shannon also shares her professional knowledge by speaking with middle and high school students about careers in engineering and environmental fields. Whether organizing events, sorting donations, caring for shelter animals, or supporting veterans and their families, Shannon consistently shows up where help is needed most. Her service reaches across generations and causes, making a lasting impact on countless lives.

Acacia Moore

Vibrant Communities Award Winner Celebrated for strengthening local communities through leadership, collaboration, and service. Acacia’s volunteer work reflects a passion for building stronger, more connected, and more inclusive communities. Through the Masters Gardeners of North Alabama, Acacia has contributed landscape design expertise, sustainability education, and hands-on support for initiatives ranging from community beautification to working with cancer patients and engaging children through environmental learning.
Her leadership also extends to the Huntsville Beautification Board, where she supports neighborhood pride and urban improvement efforts, and to the Human Relations Commission, where she promotes equity, inclusion, and mutual understanding. Through education, advocacy, and service, Acacia helps foster environments where both people and communities can thrive.

Over the past year, Parsons team members logged nearly 27,000 Volunteer Hours, supporting communities around the world. Our employees continue to lead with purpose and make a difference every day.

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TAKaaS: Parsons’ Unified Platform For Mega-Event Security And Mobility At FIFA 2026

Emily Espinosa — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:03:39 +0000

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026 is the ultimate mission for a city. It means managing millions of visitors, coordinating across multiple jurisdictions, and ensuring flawless security and mobility under intense global scrutiny. Success isn’t just about beautiful venues; it’s about a real-time, unified operating picture that ensures every police officer, fire responder, transit manager, and city official is seeing the same picture at the same moment.

We are a leader in critical infrastructure and technology solutions, and are uniquely positioned to deliver this critical capability. Our expertise is bolstered by the recent acquisition of Chesapeake Technology International (CTI), the leading provider of TAKaaS (TAK-as-a-Service).

TAKaaS is the full-spectrum service offering designed to integrate the powerful TAK (Team Awareness Kit) ecosystem, providing a secure, interoperable Common Operating Picture (COP) essential for mega-event security and city services management.

The TAKaaS Advantage for FIFA 2026 Host Cities is that it can handle the sheer scale of the 2026 World Cup across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. TAK and TAKaaS provide a common platform that breaks down communication silos between local, state, federal, and international partners. TAKaaS provides the systems and expertise to manage this complexity across three core areas:

1. Unified Public Safety Operations:

Real-Time COP: Connects all public safety agencies onto a single map-based interface, allowing for instantaneous incident reporting, resource tracking, and coordinated response.
Critical Infrastructure Overlay: Allows command teams to visualize stadium layouts, transit hubs, fan zones, and key city infrastructure against real-time security and traffic data.

2. Mobility and Transportation Management:

Dynamic Coordination: Utilizes the TAK COP’s drawing and sharing tools to quickly disseminate essential information like temporary road closures, planned diversion routes, bus queue locations, and high-density crowd zones to all personnel, enhancing field communication and coordination.
Resource Tracking: Enables precise tracking of bus fleets, shuttle services, and emergency transport vehicles to optimize flow in and out of venues and fan festivals.

3. Expert Event Readiness and Support:

Custom Integration: The CTI team provides expertise in hardware selection, secure TAK Server setup, and communication planning to ensure robust operations across the massive tournament footprint.
Mission-Specific Training: We train your teams (led by SMEs from Special Operations and Public Safety backgrounds) on tactical applications, not just software use, ensuring personnel are ready to utilize the COP during match days and high-traffic events.

Leveraging Parsons’ global event experience, our TAKaaS solution is backed by decades of Parsons’ experience in delivering mission-critical infrastructure for global events, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and numerous Olympic Games. For FIFA 2026 host cities, this translates to an integrated approach that unifies:

Integrated Delivery: Planning and construction management (PM/CM) for transportation infrastructure (bus malls, park-and-ride sites) and temporary security installations.
Advanced Security: Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS), and Critical Infrastructure Protection services are integrated with the TAK platform to provide a full-spectrum security overlay.
Legacy Planning: The integrated systems and processes built for the World Cup through TAKaaS and Parsons’ solutions are designed to remain a lasting legacy, enhancing city management, emergency response, and capital planning long after the final match.

From seamless security coordination at the stadium perimeter to optimizing traffic flow for millions of fans, TAKaaS, now a key offering from us, ensures your city is ready to execute its mission with confidence and precision.

About The Author

Andreas “AJ” Johansson is a 30-year fire service professional whose career has spanned federal, state, and local government. He started his career with the U.S. Forest Service in 1994 serving 5 seasons with the El Cariso Hotshots before transitioning to the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection. AJ has served the Corona Fire Dept (CA) from 2005-2025, achieving the rank of Fire Captain. For over a decade he has deployed with Incident Management Teams overseeing the “Situation Unit” whose purpose is to gather all aspects of intelligence on an incident and share that information across multiple domains to help first responders in their decision-making process. AJ has a passion for geospatial and mobile technologies and was a part of the California FIRESCOPE multi-agency committee on Emerging Information Technology.

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Jersey In Motion

Sasha DeVecchi — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:58:46 +0000

New Jersey In Motion

We have been a trusted partner in New Jersey for over 65 Years. Since 1960, Parsons has been a leader in delivering transformative services and solutions across New Jersey, addressing the state's most complex and critical infrastructure challenges.

Over the decades, we have delivered a variety of high-profile projects, including infrastructure development, transportation and transit systems, environmental sustainability initiatives, defense and security projects, and more. Our unwavering commitment to the Garden State's growth and development continues to drive our efforts to unlock a safer, smarter, more connected, and more sustainable New Jersey.

Our Core Values

Safety

Quality

We’re on a never-ending quest to improve our processes, services, and products. Our quality management systems ensure ISO 9001 compliance every time, and we offer robust testing and validation of our products and services, and comprehensive supplier management to meet stringent quality standards and provide our customers with unmatched results. Most of all, we listen. We listen to the ever-evolving industry and our customers to enhance understanding, capture key information, and deliver the level of quality that’s become our hallmark.

Integrity

Sustainability

Innovation

Parsons is an established innovation leader. Our creative work environment attracts the most sought-after employees, ensuring we deliver innovations that lead the industry and transform tomorrow for the better to our customers and the world. Through intensive research and development, partnerships, and rapid prototyping, we confidently provide inventive processes and unique solutions that offer unrivaled value to our customers.

Critical Infrastructure Key Services

From traditional to integrated project delivery methods, our expertise ranges from simple intersections to complex interchanges and integrated corridor management. As transportation departments face increased congestion and aging infrastructure, our experts are prepared with innovative strategies. We save time, maximize value, mitigate traffic impacts, and enhance safety as we work to improve community connections.

Bridges (Fixed and Moveable)
Civil
Construction Management
Constructability Review
Emergency Response
Environmental
Geotechnical
Highway

Hydrology & Hydraulics
ITS / ATMS
Program Management
Staff Augmentation
Transportation Planning
Traffic
Utility
Value Engineering

Bridges (Fixed and Moveable)
Civil
Construction Management
Constructability Review
Emergency Response
Environmental
Geotechnical
Highway
Hydrology & Hydraulics
ITS / ATMS
Program Management
Staff Augmentation
Transportation Planning
Traffic
Utility
Value Engineering

Learn More

Proven Expertise

Goethals Bridge Replacement P3

Elizabeth, NJ, and Staten Island, NY / $1B

Lead designer for new six-lane, cable-stayed bridge
Total crossing of roughly 7,300 feet
Includes roadway widening and reconstruction

Explore Project

Newark Bay Bridge Replacement

Newark and Bayonne, NJ / $2B

Main span length of 802 feet
New 8,800-foot-long crossings
150-year service life with state-of-the-art infrastructure tech

Hunts Point Contract 3

The Bronx, NY / $446M

Lead designer for improvements to interstate access
Will improve accessibility and enhance pedestrian safety
Includes staged construction, maintaining traffic through heavily traveled corridor

EWR Terminal A Redevelopment

Newark, NJ / $1.55B

Lead designer for civil and structural scope
Frontage roads include two 12-foot-wide travel and drop-off lanes
Includes a new elevated pedestrian walkway bridge

Hunts Point Contract 3

The Bronx, NY / $446M

Lead designer for improvements to interstate access
Will improve accessibility and enhance pedestrian safety
Includes staged construction, maintaining traffic through heavily traveled corridor

Grand Central Parkway Bridges

Queens, NY / $161M

Lead designer for deck repair and replacement of bridge decks and shared use path
Includes additional civil work for mainline

Newark Airtrain Replacement Program

Newark, NJ / $1.2B

Lead designer for driverless, on-airport transit system
Includes a 2.5-mile-long elevated guideway and three new stations

NJDOT Statewide

Statewide, NJ / $5.6M (fee)

Providing iNET® solutions for administration, installation, and management of statewide traffic operations
Providing coordination with and training to NJDOT staff

I-81 Viaduct Project

Syracuse, NY / $2.25B

Addressing structural deficiencies and non-standard highway features of a 1.4-mile elevated structure
Prepared EIS and concept development, performed preliminary design/program management

Route 35 Emergency Superstorm Sandy Repairs

Mantoloking and Bay Head, NJ / $13.9M

Roadway Infrastructure Restoration
Emergency Management
Environmental Studies

I-90 Over Oriskany Blvd

Albany and Syracuse Divisions, NY / $633K

Safety Improvements
Infrastructure Replacement
Maintenance of Traffic

RF Bridge (RK-23C)

New York, NY / $48M

Eliminated one straddle bent and one span
Used link slabs to reduce maintenance at expansion joints
Complex maintenance of traffic for the HRD below the connector

Explore Project

Innovative PMC Solutions For A Changing World

Recognized as the #1 Program Management Firm by Engineering News-Record, we deliver future-ready infrastructure and security solutions using cutting-edge technologies and advanced analytics, enabling smarter, faster, and more sustainable outcomes across the region.

Learn More

Ranked #1 In Program Management By ENR

We are a long-term strategic partner providing a full spectrum of program and construction management services and solutions. Whether providing planning and design, construction and operations, owner’s engineer, or integrated PMO services — we work closely with architects, engineers, contractors, and various stakeholders to ensure our program management solutions are tailored to meet expectations.

Our Program Management Excellence

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Meet Rebecca “Becky” Wong: Principal Project Manager At The Transbay DTX/Portal Program

Emily Espinosa — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 19:35:40 +0000

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

What’s your favorite thing about working for Parsons?

The people. I genuinely enjoy the people I work with and partner with. Finding those kinds of teammates, getting on projects with them, and having their support is what makes Parsons such a great place to work for me.

You’ve spent nearly two decades at Parsons working on some of the most complex rail and transit programs. What originally inspired you to pursue a career in transportation infrastructure?

With engineering, I liked the idea that you can see the physical results of your work. That’s what initially drew me to civil engineering. Transportation, in particular, appealed to me because these projects directly benefit the communities where we live and work. Helping people get where they need to go is meaningful, and that’s why I feel so passionate about transportation.

You’ve held multiple roles on the Transbay Program Downtown Rail Extension (DTX) project (now known as The Portal), from design engineer to deputy project manager to engineering manager. What makes this program so unique?

Having been involved with this project for a long time, I’ve been able to witness the evolution of the agency and the program firsthand. Although this program has taken a long time to come to fruition, there are actual benefits that go along with it. Over time, the agency and the program have been able to clearly define and optimize what’s truly needed for the public, the operators, and the many stakeholders. As the GEC, we have helped the agency essentialize the program into the core elements required to make the project successful and deliver something that can be used by everyone in San Francisco, the Bay Area, and ultimately the state. That long-term perspective has helped sharpen and strengthen the program.

Managing a design team of more than 100 staff and 15 consultants is no small effort. How do you keep teams aligned and motivated?

It has definitely been a challenge, especially with tight timelines for key deliverables when the agency was working to accelerate its preliminary engineering schedule. The most important factor is communication. Team members need to clearly understand their scope, what they are responsible for delivering, and how their work impacts other disciplines. Having the right touchpoints across the team ensures alignment and shared understanding. Connecting those dots and keeping the big picture in focus is actually one of my favorite parts of the job.

What are the most critical technical challenges a general engineering consultant must manage on a project like The Portal?

A key technical challenge is building entirely new infrastructure in a dense, established downtown urban environment. This is not a greenfield site. We are dealing with existing buildings, complex ground conditions, and a dense network of utilities. In addition to the dense urban environment, this project has another level of complexity because a large portion of the enabling work needs to be executed within Caltrain’s existing railyard and terminus. An essential part of the GEC’s design for this work is detailed construction staging to complete the modifications needed while still meeting Caltrain’s operational goals of maintaining their service throughout the construction of The Portal. Managing and mitigating these challenging constraints, and accounting for them in the design, is critical to the project’s success.

Stakeholder management is a huge part of the Transbay Program. How do you build trust and alignment across agencies?

It starts with understanding each stakeholder’s priorities and identifying what is a must-have versus a nice-to-have. From there, it is about coordinating those priorities to achieve the best overall outcome. Relationships are key. Building trust and understanding helps ensure everyone knows we are working toward the same goal: delivering the best possible project for the public.

As the program moves into its next phase, what are the key considerations for success of the program?

At this point, one of the most critical needs to ensure the program can be a success is to secure the balance of funding needed to construct the project. In particular, securing additional matching fund commitments will enable the agency to request Full Funding Grant Agreement through the FTA’s Capital Investment Grant program. An effective approach for this will be to build coalitions that support delivery of The Portal and partner with leaders that can advocate for the project and the TJPA’s mission.

Your experience includes BART, California High-Speed Rail, Sound Transit, the Oakland Airport Connector, and major P3 projects. How does that background help you anticipate challenges on Transbay?

I value having a balance of local projects and large-scale programs in my background. Understanding the Bay Area’s unique stakeholder environment is critical. At the same time, learning how other agencies approach project delivery is incredibly valuable. Seeing projects through ribbon-cutting and bringing those lessons learned back to Transbay helps keep the program moving forward and strengthens our overall approach.

When managing large multidisciplinary teams, what qualities define a high-performing engineering organization?

Communication, trust, and quality are essential. Strong leadership that brings disciplines together and ensures meaningful engagement, both internally as well as with clients and stakeholders, is critical. Parsons’ rigorous quality program is a real strength. It ensures consistency in approach across disciplines and helps us deliver a high-quality product.

What’s your approach to mentoring emerging engineers on complex mega programs?

What benefited me most early in my career was exposure to the bigger picture. Young engineers are often assigned very focused tasks, but understanding how their work fits into the broader schedule, how it impacts other disciplines and stakeholders, and how it serves the client is invaluable. Giving them that visibility early helps them grow and better understand what drives major programs.

If the public understood one thing about why the Transbay Program and particularly The Portal project matters, what would it be?

It delivers the last mile for both Caltrain and California High-Speed Rail, bringing both into the heart of downtown San Francisco. This program creates connections that will improve commutes, strengthen regional mobility, and increase the vitality of the Bay Area and the state as a whole.

What excites you most about the next chapter of the Transbay Program?

I’ve been on this project a long time, and my career has grown alongside it. Seeing the agency and the program mature has been incredibly rewarding. Now, being on the cusp of putting shovels in the ground is extremely exciting. I look forward to continuing to deliver the project and, one day, riding a train directly into the bottom level of the Salesforce Transit Center.

About The Author

Rebecca Wong brings extensive transportation engineering experience, including managing design teams and coordinating with multiple disciplines, subconsultants, and clients. She has developed contracts and project scopes, managed budgets, and prepared reports, specifications, and cost estimates. Rebecca has also created Visual Basic programs within Microsoft Excel to improve the efficiency of post-processing large quantities of data. Her experience additionally includes the structural design and analysis of bridges and tunnels.

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Parsons Showcases CUAS Leadership At NATO Industry Day In Brussels

Emily Espinosa — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:09:06 +0000

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

We reinforced our position as a global leader in counter-unmanned aircraft systems (CUAS) during NATO’s CUAS Industry Day at the NATO Alliance Headquarters in Brussels. The event brought together more than 100 representatives from NATO, Allied Nations, and industry partners to address the growing threats posed by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and explore collaborative paths moving forward. The gathering followed the October 2025 NATO Defense Ministers’ decision to expand the Alliance’s CUAS capabilities.

Highlighting U.S. Leadership and Open Architecture Innovation

We were represented by Dave Boyd, Security and Mission Solutions sector CTO and CUAS SME, and Trina Lawrence, senior director of CUAS business development. Their participation at this event reflects our strong performance and ongoing innovation across multiple CUAS programs.

Dave Boyd served as a panelist for “Open Architecture and Standardization,” where he addressed NATO’s greatest technical challenge of achieving true interoperability and emphasized the critical role it plays in enabling effective collaboration across the defense systems of sovereign nations.

Drawing from our long history of supporting national and international technology standards, Boyd explained, “While many emerging standards define how data and communications protocols are structured, real interoperability also requires a shared understanding of the semantic meaning behind tasks, commands, and sensor behaviors.”

He highlighted NATO’s adoption of the UK-developed SAPIENT standard as a significant step toward enabling two-way communication between sensors and command-and-control (C2) systems. Boyd stated, “For standards to truly accelerate deployment and enhance mission readiness, they must be fully vendor agnostic, enabling nations to mix and match sensors, C2 systems, and effectors without relying on proprietary integration or vendor-specific code.” This open-architecture approach ensures that nations can rapidly deploy, replace, or upgrade components, an essential capability in dynamic battlefield environments.

Proven Performance

Parsons’ invitation to participate in NATO’s Industry Day was driven in part by recent standout achievements on high-visibility CUAS programs.

CUAS Operations – Southern U.S. Border

Our team of experts continues to deliver proven CUAS solutions, including the recent deployment of DroneArmor, Parsons’ military-grade C2 system, at the U.S. southern border. The Technology Readiness Level 9 (TRL‑9) capability is providing operators with real‑time situational awareness, actionable intelligence, and precise mitigation capabilities against unauthorized or malicious drone activity, protecting personnel, communities, and critical infrastructure.

This work to enhance U.S. national security is one example of our ability to rapidly field and sustain advanced CUAS capabilities in operational environments and is becoming a model for broader federal CUAS missions.

Air Base Air Defense

We have played an active role in advancing NATO’s initiatives for air defense and counter-unmanned aircraft systems. Through our Air Base Air Defense (ABAD) contract with U.S. Air Forces in Europe, we recently delivered an advanced early warning capability for NATO’s eastern front, designed to detect and counter both UAS and other airborne threats. Leveraging our open architecture, standards-based approach, we have successfully integrated allied nation sensors into a unified common operating picture (COP) for the theater. Our state-of-the-art cross-domain solutions enable seamless data transfer from unclassified and NATO partner networks to the Air Operations Center (AOC), providing comprehensive, theater-wide situational awareness.

At our Ramstein Air Defense Integration Laboratory (RADSIL), we continue to push the envelope by integrating cutting-edge CUAS technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning–enabled autonomy and advanced target identification. Additionally, we are collaborating closely with USAFE to incorporate advanced, low collateral damage mitigation technologies, ensuring effective countermeasures against the rapidly evolving UAS threat.

OSIS (Overseas Systems Integration Support)

For more than 12 years, we have been instrumental in safeguarding personnel, assets, and U.S. interests at over 265+ diplomatic locations worldwide, including embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic facilities. Through the Overseas Security Installation Services (OSIS II) program, our team delivers a comprehensive suite of technical security solutions, seamlessly integrating advanced automated access control, CUAS, state-of-the-art biometric technologies, and operations support. Each solution is meticulously engineered and customized to meet the Department of State’s dynamic and evolving security requirements.

OSIS II exemplifies our capability to execute full-spectrum engineering, open-architecture integration, advanced analytics, on-site operational support, and long-term sustainment for technical security and CUAS systems across the globe. Managing more than 120 simultaneous projects, OSIS II is recognized as one of the world’s largest and most sophisticated diplomatic security and technical security upgrade and installation initiatives, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to protecting critical U.S. missions and adapting to emerging global threats. These combined achievements formed the foundation for Parsons to represent the U.S. industry on the international stage

Driving The Future Of NATO CUAS Cooperation

NATO’s CUAS Industry Day was the culmination of a weeklong series of Allied discussions focused on accelerating CUAS capabilities ahead of multiple major integration exercises planned for 2026.

A Growing Global Footprint

As drone threats grow in complexity and scale, NATO and Allied partners are increasingly turning to leaders capable of delivering open architecture, mission-proven, and rapidly deployable CUAS solutions.

Through our CUAS Center of Excellence and decades of work supporting federal clients and international partners, we continue to deliver the innovation, speed, and integration expertise needed to outpace evolving unmanned threats.

Learn more about our advanced CUAS solutions here.

About The Author

Trina Lawrence, senior director of CUAS business development, has over 20 years of experience in business development, capture management, and strategic growth within the UAS and CUAS sectors across the Department of War, Intelligence Community, and federal civilian markets.

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